A recent email to supporters from Robert M. “Mike” Duncan, Chairman of the Republican National Committee begins like this:
Do you think the redistribution of wealth by the federal government is one of America’s best traditions? How about free child care? Free college tuition? Wage insurance? Nationalizing oil refineries? A global tax paid to the United Nations?
A lot of this is plain made up. The global tax paid to the UN is a reference to the Global Poverty Act, which Obama sponsored. It makes reducing global poverty a goal of American policy, but does not institute a global tax paid to anyone. And Obama has never said anything about nationalizing oil refineries.
As for “free college tuition,” here’s what the Obama website says:
Obama will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students.
Not exactly what the GOP email would have you believe.
Basically, the GOP is using the most effective attacks, regardless of whether or not they are the most accurate. (Here’s another example.) I know this isn’t a startling revelation. But when was the last time you saw a Democrat play by the same rules? For example, considering this, a Democratic Party using the Republican playbook would call John McCain corrupt. Repeatedly.
Would it be accurate? Not exactly. The point is whether or not it would work.
